Coin collector



@c 249 @33 H. sENGEBUscl-a l,932,234

COIN COLLECTOR Filed June 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l fm1-ZE? Hansanqsbusch Oct. 24, 1933. H. sl-:NGEBuscl-l 1,932,234

COIN COLLECTOR Filed June 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Im Hans Sez-Lc/ebusch Patented Oct. 24, 1933 UNITEA STATES CQIN` CGLLECTOR HansSengebusch, Villa mesne assignments,

Park, lll., assigner, by

to Associated Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporationoi Delaware Application June 26, 1931; Serial No. 546,963

9 Claims. (Cl. 194^16) Thisinvention relates to coin-collectingapparatus `oi the type used at paystations in telephone systems andadapted for what are generally known as pre-pay service and postpayservice.

Such apparatus is provided with means which hold-deposited coins insuspension where they maybe either`- collected or refunded as the casemight be; This collecting and refunding of deposited coins may beperformed either automatically or under the control .of an operatoraccording to the type of telephone system in which the=apparatus isused. In the past, considerable diiiieulty has beenv encountered in thecollecting l and refunding of deposited coins when several coinsaredeposited for a single call because or" the weight ot'the several coinsand it has been necessary to provide thecontrolling circuits with meanslwhich repeatedly operate the vcollecting andrefunding means to vjar orshake loose the coins-under such conditions. y

According to the main feature of the present invention, novel coinsuspension means is provided", which means insure the proper distribultion of deposited coins, that is, the collecting or refunding of theYdeposited coins, with only 'a single' positive operation of thatr means,

Other features of the invention, not being speciiicallyv mentioned atthis time, will be apl'iparent fromastudy oi the following descriptionin' conjunction with the associated drawings comprising Figs. 1 to 6,inclusive, which depict the present invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front View of the assembled apparatus; v

Fig. 2 is a side Viewl of the assembly; v

Figs. Sand 4 are detailed views of one embodiment of the invention; and'Figs; 5 and 6 are detailed views of a second embodiment of theinvention.

The coin collecting apparatusy comprises esjsentially a coin chute, acoin operated trigger, contact springs controlled thereby, coinsuspension means, and means for operating said coin suspension means toeither collector refund'sus pended coins.

Thecoin chute and the casing for-housing the coin suspension means areformed in 'the vusual manner bythe two casing members 1v and 2, Figs.

l 1 and 2. These two members are substantially symmetrical 'and whensecured together by means of screws-3i and flanges on the two members,the upper half forms the coin chute and the lower half forms the housingfor the coin suspension means. The-upper extremity o the member 1 flaresoutward to provide anv enlarged opening for receiving coins.

Pivotally mounted on a projection 8 of*y 'the iront casing member 1 bymeans of pin 14, is a lever having the three arms 9, 10, and 11. Lever rarms 9 and 10 have their plane surfaces at right angles to each otherand arm 11 is al continuation of the arm 10 upon the opposite side ofthe axis formed by pin 14. The upper eX- tremity of arm 11 is providedwith anv insulat- 65 ing bushing lto insulate the lever from the contactsprings of the spring assembly 5 which is secured to the bracket 4 andby means thereof mounted on the front casing member 1. This lever isformed U-shaped at itscenter to pre-- vent any but a rotary movement onthe pin 14;- The casing members 1 and 2 are provided with cooperatingprojections 8 situated-below the projection 8, at the extremities ofwhich is pivotally mounted a second lever 18. The lever v 18 has twoupwardly turned projections '151 and 15v by means of which the lever 18'is provided` with a U-shaped mounting for being pivotally secured to theprojections 8 bymeans of pin'16".l A counter-clockwise rotation of coinlever` 18 80y about pivot 16 is translated to lever 9` by means ofconnecting rod 12 which is pivotally secured to lever 9 at 13 and whichis connected to theupper extremity of projection 15 of lever 18 by asliding pivot 17. f

Coin lever 18 at its left-hand extremity is turned inward to projectthrough an arcialI aperture 19 in casing member 1 into the coin chute.All coinslrialling in the coin chute fall upon this inward projectionand rotate the lever 18 in a 90 counter-clockwise direction about itspivot'l' until the lever projection is pushed out of the path of thecoins. The arcial aperture 19 has a radius of curvature equal totheradius ofthe arc described by the inward projection of coin lever 18'.95 When the coin has passed this inward projection the coin lever isreturned in a clockwise direction of rotation by the weight 20 securedto theA right end of lever 13 until the lever assumes the' position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 1'.

When the coin lever is thus rotated by-a coiny falling in the chute, themotion of the lever is' translated tolever 9 by the connecting rodl 12.Consequently-lever 9 is rotated in a clockwise direction about its pivot14.

A bearing plate 'l secured to a boss 6 on casing.. member 1 forms abearing for the pin 23 which supports the two levers 21`and25'substantially midway between their extremities,

' The lever 21 is provided at its left-hand endA 110 pivot 36.

with a weight 24 which holds the shoulder 22 at the other extremityagainst the under edge of the arm 10 of lever 9. If lever 21 were freeto rotate without interference from arm 10, the weight 24 would rotatelever 21 in a counterclockwise direction about pin 23.

From this it can be seen that, when lever 9 is rotated clockwise, theend of arm 10 will clear shoulder 22 and lever 21 will rotate an amountequal to the height of the shoulder. Therefore, when coin lever 18returns to its normal position after a coin has passed, lever 9 will beheld in its new position because of arm V10 engaging the shoulder 22.Thus the: contact springs of assembly are moved by the rotation of lever9 and held in the new position by arm and lever 21. Since rod 12 isprovided with a sliding connection to projection 15, lever 18 will befree to return to its normal position even though lever 9 is held in itsnew position.

The lever which is also pivoted on pin 23, has a connecting rod 26plvotally connected to one end thereof at 27 and a weight 29 secured tothe other end. The lower end of rod 26 is secured to the coinsuspensionmeans as shown at 3,0. The weight 29 has suiiicient mass toreturn the coin suspension means.V to normal as will be describedpresently.

An auxiliary arm 28 on lever 25 engages the lever 21 as lever 25 rotatesin a clockwise direction and similarly rotates that lever. This ro'-tation frees the arm 10 of lever 9 from behind shoulder 22. The tensionof the contact springs thereupon rotates the lever 9 to the positionshown. When lever 25 returns to its normal position under the influenceof weight 29, the lever 21 also rotates until the shoulder 22 abuts thelower edge of arm 10 of lever 9.

Two solenoid magnets 31 and 31 having plungers 32 and 32 are secured tomounting brackets 33 and 33 which in turn are secured to front casingmember 1. Two levers and 35' of the general design shown are pivotallysecured to the front casingmember 1 'at 36 and 36. These levers 35 and35 are connected to plungers 32 and 32', respectively, by connectingrods 34 and 34. Thus when magnet 31 is energized by current owingthrough its winding, the plunger 32 thereof will be drawn in, therebyraising the y associated connecting rod 34 rotating the correspondingbracket 35 about its pivot 36. Energization of magnet 31 causes plunger32 to be drawn inward, thereby pulling connecting rod 34 upward androtating lever 35 about its One of these magnets is used for thecollecting of deposited coins and the other for refunding purposes. y

The coin suspension means shown in Figs. 3 and 4 will rst be described.This suspension g means is constructed in the form of a table havingcollapsible legs.

The two legs which support the table top 37, to which is secured theconnectv ing rod 26 at 30, comprise the two upper sections 38 and 38 andthe two lower sections 40 and 40. The upper sections 33 and 38 arerotatably se.- cured to the table top 37 by means of pins 39 and 39',respectively, which pins are inserted through cooperating holes in theflanges with which these members are provided. The lower vsections 40and 40 are rotatably mounted on the pins 36 which are secured in thecasing members 1 and 2. The upper sections and the lower sections arerotatably secured together by means of pins 41 and 41 inserted throughholes in the .flanges fof these two sections. The lower seo-i v thelever brackets 35 and 35', respectively.

Thus, when the lever 35 is rotated on 36 upon the energization of magnet31, lever 35 by means of the projection 42 rotates the lower leg sectionin a counter clockwise direction with respect to its position in Fig. 3.This carries the upper section 38 to the left and downward andconsequently causes the top plate 37 to rotate clockwise about the pin39. During this movement, the leg sections 38 and 46 remain rigid andconsequently the pin 39 remains stationary. Finally, the mechanismassumes the position shown in dotted form in Fig. 3.

If the lever 35 had been rotated instead of lever 35, the sections 38and 40 would have remained rigid and the sections 38 and 40 would havebeen moved in the same manner, whereupon the top plate 37 would havebeen rotated in the opposite direction, this time upon the pin 39. Thistable mechanism is so placed in the lower portion of the inclosureformed by casing members l and 2 that it is immediately beneaih the coinchute. When the table top is inthe horizontal position, any coinsdescending the chute will drop onto the plate 37 and remain there untilthe plate is tipped either in the direction to collect or the directionto refund. When the plate 37 is tilted as has just been described, thecoin, or coins, resting thereon, are directed either into the collectreceptacle or into the return chute. Y

As the plate 37 rotates downward in either direction, it pulls theconnecting rod 26 with it, thereby rotating the lever25 and causing thearm 28 thereof to rotate the lever 21, whereupon the arm 10 of lever 9is released and the contact springs allowed to assume their normalpositions.

t should be noticed that the legs when in normal position bow outwardslightly atrthe joints 4l and 41. This is to prevent .he collapsing ofthe legs when the coins drop onto the topplate 37. The lower legsections 40 and 49 are provided with the rear projecting pieces 46 and46 which act as stopping members to prevent further bowing of the legs.The coil springs 44 and 44, Fig. 1, serve to maintain the legs in thebowed position to remove the possibility of the collapsing of the legsshould a fraudulent attempt of the by the proper runways into the coinchute.l VAs the rst coin descends the chute it strikes the inwardprojection of lever 13 and moves the lever downward. This movementimparts motion to lever 9 through projection 15 and connecting rod 12.Lever arm 11 thereupon operates the conact springs of the springassembly 5. Lever 21 rotates as lever arm 10 is moved out of the wayroishoulder 22. Therefore, when lever 13 returns after the coin has passed,lever 9 remains in its new POS'OIi beause arm 10 abuts the side ofshoulder- 5.0 of substantially the same width as the trap doors,

26 is fastened on the pin 53'.

i extremities with gear segments. e

22,. Coins subsequently descending the chute will only operatethe lever18..

The descending coins-finally come to yrestupon thehorizontal plate 3.7where they remain until they are either-refunded: or collected. .If theyare to be collectedthe winding of solenoidmagnet 31 will be energizedand if thedeposited coins are to be refunded; solenoid magnet 31. willbe energized..

Assuming that the deposited coins are to be collected, magnet 3l will beenergized, whereupon it: draws in' its plunger 32. This lifts theconnecting rod 3- and consequently rotates the lever' 35 in acounter-clockwise direction about 36. This causes the like rotation ofthe lower leg section 40A and the accompanying movement of the ,uppersection 38v and the consequent downward tiltingof thel plate 37 about.the pivot 39. The deposited coins thereupon slide into the collectreceptacle. Y

The downward movement of the plate 37 pulls the rod 26 .downward withit, Ywhereupon the lever 25- is ro.ated clockwise about pin 23. The arm28. of lever 25. rotatesthe lever 21. This rotation oflever 21tr-ees thearm 10 of lever 9, whereupon lever 9v returns to normal as the contactsprings of the spring assembly 5 return to their normal positionsbecause of the energy stored therein. This return to normal of thecontact springs causes thedeenergizationof the magnet 3l, where uponAthe weight 29 causes the restoration of the lever 25. and therestoration of the plate 37. The weight 29 is assisted in` itsrestoration function by the spring 44.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises coin suspension meanswhich can be used in place of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4 withveryv little change in the apparatus of Figs. 1 andV 2. Two doorsv 50and 50 pivotally mounted"l on pins 51 and 5l' secured in the casingmembers. 1 and 2 cooperate to form a platform beneath the coin chute forarresting descending coinsand holding them until either the collectingor'refundingoperation takes place. The supporting a-nd controllingmembers for these tra-p doors comprise the two levers 54 and 54',rotatably mounted on pins 56and- 56 secured in the front casing. member1, and the two connecting mein bersA 52 and 52. Connecting member 52 isrotatably secured to lever 54r at 55 and to the door 5G at 53 on aprojecting piece of the door. Con-- necting member 52" is similarlysecured to lever 54 andtrapdoor 50.. f y

Levers. 54 and 54 are provided at their lower rhe teeth. of the segmentof lever 5.4 mesh wiih the teeth of the gea-r segment of lever. 54. Thusrotation of either lever imparts van opposite direction of rotation tothe other lever.. Y v

A. coin-defiecting plate or vane 57, which is is rotatably mounted onthe pin 58 secured in the casing members 1 and 2. This plate is providedwith a roller 59 which is in position to engage the levers 54 and 54.Connecting rod The weight 29, Fig. 1, of sufficient mass to move themechanism from the operated position of Fig. 6 to the lect magnet isenergized and the other way when the refund magnet. is energized.. This.tilting. of the.- common: armature impar-.ts` an pendulunrmotion to: a:long; arm. secured toy the armature at itsv axis. of rotation.. Magnets;with. armatures such asJtheseI are well` known and; needtno-furtherdescription.v They have. been omitted from. the drawings: as it is:believed'. their. operation. can be readily understood without a.showing..

The longj arm. of the armature is.' provided; at its free. end with. anelongated aperture which receives a pin on the deiiect'or opposite1-theroller 59.. Thus it caribe seen that tilting: ofthe common armature'iinone direction will rotate the deflector 57 in one directionaboutitspivot 518 and tilting of the armatureinthe other direction willresultv in the reverse rotation of' the .deflector 5'7; t

If the deiiector. is rotated1 clockwise, the-roller'59 .will act uponthe lever 514- andI rotate it. in the samev direction about its pivot56'. As lever' 54 rotates, it causes the rotation of lever 54 in thereverse direction by means of the cooperating gear segments. Rotation ofthese levers. opens the trap doors and the apparatus finally assumes theposition in Fig. 6. Any coins resting upon the doors in the closedposition will. fallwhen the doors. are opened and will be deflected bythe plate 57y into the receptacle.. When the refund magnet isenergized', the deiiectoriwill be moved to the position in Fig. 6. Whenthe collect'm'agynet is energized, the deflector acts. upon the lever54" and assumes the position opposite to.y thatv of Fig. 6. Under thislatter condition the; position of the rest of the apparatus is the sameasishowrr. Thus, with the deflector moved to the riglit,. the coinswill' be deflected to the refund. receptacle and with the deflector tothe left, to the collect receptacle.

Lever 26' is pulled down each time the' doors'v are opened and.`performs the same functionsas'when pulled` downward. by the top plate3.7 ofy Fig.. 3:. When the magnet. is deenergized, the` lever 26.Y ispulled upward and the trap doors are closed. In the closed position ofthe doors, the pressure supplied by coins isnecessarily.downward..The-parts are so` arranged that. this pressure presses.` the levers 54and 5.4 inward against. theV roller 59.', thereby maintaining the doorsclosed until one of the .magnets is energized to rotate. ther deiiector57.

From. the foregoing. it will be. appreciated that the coincollecting andrefunding apparatus is positive .inits actions and that under-no.circumstances can the apparatus fail to collect orrefund von a singleoperation.`

The invention havingbeen thus described, what is considered novel and isdesired. to have. pro.- tected by Letters Patent is pointed out in theclaims which follow.

What is claimedy is:`

i. In a coin-distributing apparatus having. two coin receptacles, avertical coin chute, a horizontal platform directly beneath said chutefor arresting and holding forl distribution coins descending therein, asystem of levers for tilting said platform, means for operating certainof said levers to tilt said platform in one direction to distribute thecoins to one receptacle, and means for operating others of said leversto tilt said platform in the other direction to distribute the coins tothe other receptacle.

2. In a coin-distributing apparatus having two coin receptacles, avertical coin chute having cirvcuit controlling springs mounted thereon,a lever for operating said springs, a coin lever mounted 4- VLacasse.o-n said chute and operated by a coin descending therein, said coinlever, upon being operated by a coin, operating said other lever tooperate said springs, means for maintaining said other lever operated tohold said springs operated, a platform directly beneath said chute forarresting and holding for distribution a coin descending said chute,means for tilting said platform in one direction to deposit the coin inone receptacle or for tilting the` platform in the other direction todeposite the coin in .the other receptacle, and means operated by saidplatform when it is tilted for releasing `said other lever to therebyrestore said springs. i

3. Coin-distributing apparatus comprising a coin chute down whichdeposited coins'descend, a platform comprising two oppositely hingedtrap doors arranged beneath said chuteto arrest descending coins and tohold them for distribution, a. vertical deflecting plate hinged at itslower edge, a system of levers associated with each trap door and inposition to be operated by an attachment on said deflecting plate, saidsystems of levers connected together by meshing gear segments, wherebyoperation of one system will operatethe other system, means for swingingsaid deflecting plate one direction from the vertical to operate saidsystems of levers to open said trap doors, whereby coins held by saidplatform are allowed to drop and are deilected by the deiiecting plateinto one receptacle, and means for swinging said plate in the oppositedirection from the vertical to operate said systems of levers and todeflect the dropping coins into another receptacle.

4. In a coin-distributing apparatus, a coin chute, a switch deviceincluding a coin-actuated lever adapted to be struck by the rst of aseries of descending coins for operating the device, means formaintaining the device operated after ,theY iirst actuation of thelever, a pair of oppositely hinged doors forming a closed surfacebeneath4 said chute for arresting the descending coins andholding themfor-distribution, a system of levers for opening each trap door, saidlever systems `being connected together' by means of cooperating gearswherebyv operation of one system of levers to open one door causes thesimultaneous operation of the other system to open the other door, avertical deflecting vane hinged at its lower edge and located beneathsaid doors, and

means on said vane in operative relation with both lever systems wherebyswinging vof vsaidlvane in either direction from the vertical ,operatesone or the other of saidlev'er systems to open said doors and deilectsthev coins held for distribution in one of two directions, and meansoperated by one of said doors ywhen opened for vreleasing said switchdevice. v

5. Coin-distributing mechanism for apparatus having a single coin chuteand two coin receptacles, comprising a table-like structure composed ofa horizontal table top hinged at each end to a collapsible leg-likestructure, said top adapted to arrest coins descending said chute andhold them for distribution to either of the two receptacles, and meansfor collapsing either leg structure independently of the other, wherebysaid top is tilted in one or the other direction from the horizontal tocause the coins held thereby to be deposited in one or the other of saidreceptacles.

6. In a coin collector, a coin chute, a switch device mounted thereon, acoin-actuated 'lever adapted to be operated by a coin descending saidchute for operating said device, means for maintaining said device whenso operated, a platform for arresting the descending coin'and holding itto later be collected or refunded, means for manipulating said platformfor collecting or refunding the held coin, and means operated by saidplatform each time it is manipulated for operating said maintainingmeans to release said device.

'7. In a paystation device, a coin chute, a coinactuated lever adaptedto be actuated 'by a coin descending said chute, a switch device havinga normal position and moved therefrom to an operated position by saidlever when it is actuated by the rst of a series of coins, means formaintaining said device in its operated position, mechanism for holdingdeposited coins for distribution, means for operating said mechanism toeither collect or refund held coins, restoring apparatus, and meansoperated by said mechanism, each time it is operated to distributecoins, for operating said restoring apparatus to operate saidlmaintaining means, and to restore vsaid mechanism, saidmaintainingm'eans thereupon releasing said switch device. y

8. In a coin receiving device including a coin chute 'down which adeposited coin descends, a platform, a collapsible leg-like structurefor holding said platform normally in a horizontal posi- Y tion at thebase of said chute to arrest and hold in suspension a coin descendingsaid chute, and means for collapsing said leg structure to manipulatesaid platform to dispose of the coin held in suspension thereby. I l

9. In a coin receiving device including-a vertical coin receiving chute,a platform, a collapsible leg-like structure for holding said platformnormally in a horizontal position at the base -of said chute to arrestand hold in suspension a coin descending said chute, electromagneticmeans for collapsing said leg structure, upon the energization of themagnet winding, to move said platform from the horizontal position todispose of a suspended coin, and means acted upon by gravity andeffective upon the deenergization of the magnet winding to restore saidplatform and leg structure to normal.

'HANS SENGEBUSCH.

